Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians agree on need for reconciliation: national report

The National Narrative on Reconciliation Report surveyed Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians on attitudes towards reconciliation and revealed a strong alignment about the contributions that Indigenous Peoples make to Canadian society. The survey, the first of its kind, also points to significant barriers to overcome to truly achieve reconciliation.

Over the past decade, we have witnessed growing momentum in the reconciliation movement in Canada. In its final report, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission noted that meaningful engagement among Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians will be key in advancing reconciliation. To support this, Reconciliation Canada commissioned a national public opinion survey to measure Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians’ perspectives, beliefs and attitudes on reconciliation and the journey ahead.

Do Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Canadians share a similar or distinct view on reconciliation? Is there a basis for common ground upon which to build a path forward? Where do their perspectives diverge? What barriers to reconciliation exist?

Explore these questions in the report and interactive below.

By developing an accurate understanding of the perspectives of both populations at this point in time, we can begin to identify areas of opportunity as well as current obstacles to progress.

The survey was conducted online with representative samples of Indigenous Peoples (N=521) and non-Indigenous Canadians (n=1,529) in September 2016.

The findings of the survey are among the topics discussed at The National Thought Table on Reconciliation on May 10, 2017. Learn more about this livestream event here.

Our future, and the well-being of all our children rests with the kind of relationships we build today.